Bearing in mind the serious environmental impact of stainless steel pickling, the National Green Tribunal has restrained all stainless steel pickling units from carrying on any manufacturing activity in the Capital without the consent of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The NGT was hearing a petition by the All India Lokadhikar Sangthan, which has alleged that there are several stainless steel pickling industries in Delhi that are operating in violation of green norms and are harmful to the environment and the public at large.
Last week, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar passed the order after authorities, including the DPCC and the Delhi Jal Board, conceded that there are industries carrying on activity of stainless steel pickling in different parts of the city. “It can hardly be disputed that these are highly polluting industries and can have a very serious impact on the ground water, water bodies drains and where industrial effluent is discharged from such units,” the order noted.
The order further stated: “Such industries, in accordance with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, can neither be established nor operate without the consent of the DPCC obtained in accordance with law.”
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The Tribunal also directed the Delhi Jal Board to furnish the list of all the industries which are, according to them, discharging acidic effluents into the drains.
Steel pickling is the process of removing impurities, such as stains and inorganic contaminants, from the metal.
The matter is listed for hearing on September 19.
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